From my perspective as an Oleander, the most critical part of this process is what happens beneath the soil. My extensive, fibrous root system is both my anchor and my life support. Before any move, I need you to assess my size. The root ball should be approximately 12 inches in diameter for every inch of my trunk's diameter. This ensures you capture enough of my vital roots to minimize shock. Please hydrate me deeply 24-48 hours before the operation. This saturates my cells, making me more resilient and helping the soil hold together around my roots, protecting them during the excavation.
This is a delicate operation. Using a sharp, clean spade, make clean cuts in a circle around my drip line (the area directly below the outermost reaches of my branches). This is where the majority of my feeder roots are located. Slice downward, aiming to create a root ball about 12-18 inches deep. Avoid yanking or tearing my roots, as clean wounds heal faster. Once the sides are cut, you can begin undercutting the root ball at an angle, severing the taproots. Please be as gentle as possible; every root you preserve is a channel for water and nutrients I will desperately need in my new home.
Time is of the essence once I am freed from the ground. My roots are extremely sensitive to desiccation (drying out) and sunlight. Have my new planting hole prepared in advance—it should be twice as wide as my root ball but no deeper. This allows my roots to easily expand into loosened soil without sinking. Carefully lift me by the root ball, not my trunk. Immediately place my root ball on a tarp or directly into a wheelbarrow to transport me to the new site. The goal is to get me from my old hole to my new one with minimal delay to prevent my root hairs from dying.
Place me in the center of the new hole, ensuring that the top of my root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding grade to prevent water from pooling around my trunk, which can lead to fatal rot. Once I am positioned correctly, backfill the hole with the native soil you removed, perhaps amended with a small amount of compost. Do not use rich potting mixes or excessive fertilizer, as this can burn my tender, damaged roots. Gently tamp the soil down as you go to eliminate large air pockets, but avoid compacting it too heavily, as my roots need oxygen and room to grow.
My survival now depends on your aftercare. Water me deeply and thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the soil around my roots and provide essential hydration. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch, like wood chips, around my base, but keep it a few inches away from my main stem. This mulch is crucial—it conserves moisture, regulates soil temperature, and reduces weed competition, all of which reduce stress on my recovering system. Water me regularly for the first few months, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. I may wilt or drop some leaves; this is a normal reaction as I focus my energy on re-establishing my root system. Please be patient with me.
